Heizaburo sato



A ril 4, 1967 HEIZABURO SATO APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF CERAMIC CONDENSER ELEMENTS Filed June 19, 1963 5 Sheets-Shae; 1

INVENT OR April 4, 1967 HEIZABURO SATO APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF CERAMIC CONDENSER ELEMENTS Filed June 19, 1963 55heets-Sheet 3 1N VENTbR file/yawn 0% BY 0.5 neaz EN, 5955 @5105 5.52 4? ATTORNEYS HEIZABURO SATO 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MuWzAa/w Jazfir April 4, 1967 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF CERAMIC CONDENSER ELEMENTS Filed June 19, 1963 u 3 QA :5... 2

A ril 4, 1967 HEIZABURO SATO APPARATUS FOR MANUFAC'J'URE OF CERAMIC CONDENSER ELEMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 19, 1963 INVENTOR craze United States Patent 3,312,192 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF CERAMIC CONDENSER ELEMENTS Heizahuro Sato, Maebashi, Japan, assignor to Taiyo Yuden Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed June 19, 1963, Ser. No. 289,111 Claims priority, application Japan, Mar. 19, 1963, 38/ 12,765 9 Claims. (Cl. 118226) This invention relates to a novel apparatus and method for conductively coating thin ceramic-condenser elements in a highly eflicient and uniform manner.

Ceramic condensers are formed of a number of individual ceramic pieces, each being very thin and fragile and having a conductive coating applied to opposed surfaces thereof. Such coatings have been previously painted thereon, with the painting being a rather bothersome and non-exact procedure, and requiring considerable drying time. The previous methods for applying such coatings have also resulted in excessive breakage of the rather fragile ceramic pieces.

The instant invention advantageously applies uniform conductive coatings of any desired shape and pattern in an automatic manner, with considerably greater uniformity, higher efliciency and less breakage than has heretofore been possible. Basically, the apparatus of the present invention includes a pair of opposed stamp rods having resiliently formed stamp pieces at their terminal ends, with such stamp pieces being repeatedly moved together and separated, corresponding to the sequential placement of the ceramic pieces therebetween and removing of same therefrom.

In addition to the automatic reciprocal movement of the stamp rods, the instant invention provides further automatic means for feeding the ceramic piece to the region intermediate the stamp rods; removing the ceramic piece therefrom; and applying conductive paint to the opposed stamping surfaces of the stamp rods. Further, these stamping surfaces are formed of resilient or elastic material to permit firm stamping engagement with the thin ceramic disk in a non-shock inducing manner, thereby avoiding breakage of the ceramic pieces.

Sequential operation of the various steps performed in the instant apparatus is advantageously obtained by means of an arrangement of time-coordinated driving cams, driven by a common source, with all the steps thereof being repeated in a regular order. The steps are preferably performed in the following manner:

(1) A paint applicator member with conductive paint automatically applied thereto from a paint source projects between the stamp surfaces of the stamp rods while in their spaced-apart position; such that subsequent bringing together of the stamp surfaces will supply same with paint.

(2) The stamp rods are then separated and the paint applicator retracted. A ceramic piece feeding plate containing the ceramic piece to be coated is projected intermediate the stamp rods.

(3) One of the stamp rods is brought in contact with the ceramic piece held by the feeding plate, such that the conductive paint adheres the ceramic piece to that stamp rod.

(4) The stamp rod is then separated causing removal of the ceramic piece from the feeding plate, thereby permitting subsequent removal of the empty feeding plate.

(5) The stamp rods are brought together about opposed surfaces of the ceramic plate, preferably in a repeated manner, to thereby apply a uniform conductive coating of the desired shape and pattern to the opposed surfaces thereof.

"ice

(6) A holder arm of a removal means projects to hold the ceramic pieces at its both side edges, the stamp rods are separated and the holder arm then discharges the piece into a discharging trough disposed below.

It is therefore seen that the apparatus of my invention permits the opposed surfaces of a thin ceramic .piece to be automatically coated with a conductive paint in a highly eflicient manner while avoiding breakage thereof.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for automatically forming conductive paint coatings on the opposed surfaces of a ceramic condenser element.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus, wherein such a conductive coating is applied with a minimum of breakage of the ceramic pieces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method whereby opposed stamping rods having a conductive paint applied thereto reciprocally engage a ceramic piece positioned therebetween for uniformly applying a conductive coating of desired shape and pattern to opposed surfaces thereof.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide such an apparatus and method further including sequentially timed means for automatically projecting and removing the ceramic piece from the region intermediate the reciprocally movable stamping rods.

Still a further object of the instant invention is to provide such an apparatus Where the stamp pieces of the rods are formed of an elastic material so as to firmly engage the thin ceramic pieces while avoiding breakage thereof.

These as well as other objects of the instant invention will readily become apparent upon a consideration of the following drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the apparatus.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the III-III in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken VIIVII in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken VIIIVIII in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IXIX in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of denser element produced.

The overall apparatus of my invention is shown mounted on a base plate 1 having frame members 2, 3 vertically extending in parallel relationship from the upper surface of base plate 1. Substantially all the individual components of the instant apparatus are advantageously attached to these basic structural members 1, 2, 3 to form an integrally contained machine assembly.

As will be subsequently described, sequential performance of the various steps for painting the conductive metallic layer on the opposed surfaces of the ceramic piece is provided by timing cams 14, 15, 16, 17, rotated 'by common shaft 13 and timing cams 65, 96 rotated by intermediate drive shaft 11. These shafts are driven by the motor 4, via the arrangement of belt 5, reduction gearing assembly 6, shaft 7, chain wall 8, chain 9, chain wall 10, shaft 11, bevel gearing assembly 12.

Reference is first made to FIGURES 2 and 6, with line along the line along the line a ceramic conrespect to the reciprocal movement of the stamp rods alignment, and are reciprocally moved towards one another and away from one another to permit placement of the ceramic piece therebetween, stamping of the ceramic piece by its engagement with their end-located stamp pieces 27', 27', and removal of the ceramic piece. The opposed end stamp pieces 27', 27 of the stamp rods 27 and 27 are advantageously made of an elastic material, such as vesicatory soft synthetic resin, rubber, or similar material constructed to hold a sufficient supply of paint for uniformly coating the opposed surfaces of the ceramic piece, with such stamping being effected with minimum shock thereby preventing breakage of the fragile ceramic piece.

The vertical movement of the stamp rods 27 and 27 is controlled by guide plate 18, having vertical guide groove 19. A pair of slide members 26 and 2% are positioned to slide upwardly and downwardly along guide groove 19. An arm 21 forwardly projects from each slide member 20, having an attaching member 22 mounted thereon to move forwardly and rearwardly along arm 21. Attaching member 22 may be fixed at any desired position by screw 23. An arm 24 sidewardly projects from each attaching member 22, with there being axis tube 26 mounted thereon to slide to the right or left along arm 24. Adjusting screw 25 fixes the lateral position of arm 24 and axis tube 26. Each of the axis tubes 26 contains the stamp rod 27 in a manner permitting upward or downward movement thereof along tube 26, with the stamp rod 27 being fixed at any desired position by screw 28.

The vertically guided movement of the stamp rods 27, 27 is provided by timing cam 14 as shown in FIGURE 6. The peripheral surface of cam 14 is in engagement with cam follower roller 31 .intermediately located along lever 29. The lower end of lever 29 is axially pivoted to base plate 1 at 36, with its upper end having a rolier 32 in engagement with a guide groove 35 in the periphery of slidable rod 34. Rod 34 slides between the two machine frames 2 and 3, perpendicular to cam shaft 13, and is biased in one direction by spring member 33. Accordingly, the movement of lever 29 by its engagement with cam 14 moves rod 34 to the right against the action of spring 33, with red 34 being returned to the left by spring 33. Rod 34 further includes guide grooves 36, in engagement with end roller 37 of upper and lower bell crank pair 38, 33. Bell crank members 38 are pivoted about their axes 40, with their opposite ends having pins 39 in engagement with the side surface of the slide members 20. Accordingly, it is seen that revolution of cam member 14 will cause reciprocating vertical movement of stamp rods 27 and 27 through lever 29, slidable rod 34, bell crank pair 38, 38 and the slide members 20. The vertical movement of the stamp rods 27 is repeated as cam 14 rotates, with the stroke length and time sequence thereof being governed by the concave and convex configuration of cam surface 14.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 7, with respect to a description of the movement of the paint member for feeding conductive paint to the stamp rods 27, 27. The time sequence of this operation is governed by cam 15, shown in engagement with cam follower roller 43, intermediately located along lever 41. The lower end of lever 41 is axially pivoted to base plate 1 at 42. The upper end of the lever 41 contains a grooved section 44 in engagement with roller 45 provided at the lower surface of paint member 46. Paint member 46 is slidably mounted in a guide groove 49 perpendicular to cam shaft 13. The front end of paint member 46 passes through a suitable aperture in machine frame 3 to project out wardly for forming a paint-applying surface 47. Paint member 46 is pulled rearwardly by spring 48, such that revolution of cam 15 causes member 46 to project forwardly against the action of spring 48, to bring the paintapplying surfaces 47 into the space between the upper and lower stamp rods 27, 27. Further rotation of cam 15 permits return of member 46 under the action of spring 46.

FIGURE 8 shows the mechanism, whereby the feeding member carrying the ceramic piece is operated responsive to the revolution of its timing cam 16 to project between the stamp rods 27, 27 while the latter are in their spacedapart positions; and for supplying the ceramic piece to the upper stamp rods 27 prior to the application of the conductive coating. Cam follower lever 51 is pivotally attached at axis 52 to base plate 1, and includes intermediate roller 53 in engagement with cam 16. The upper end of lever 51 is connected via connecting rod 55 to a lever 56, and is rearwardly returned by spring 54. Lever 56 is pivotally attached at axis 57 to the base plate 1, outside the machine frame 3. Member 59 designates the feeding plate for the ceramic piece, said feeding late being slidably placed on a supporting plate 58 above lever 56. Downwardly projecting member 60 is attached to the lower surface of the feed plate 59 by virtue of its insertion in guide groove 61 thereof. A roller 62 on the side surface of projection 69 is in engagement with groove 63 at the upper end portion of lever 56. Guide frame 64 supplies the ceramic piece 134 (shown in FIGURE 10), obtained from an appropriate feeding means, to the upper surface of feeding plate 5) when the feeding plate is retreated to the right. Thus, in accordance with the revolution of timing cam 16, the feeding plate 59 is reciprocally moved to the right and left via cam follower lever 51, connecting rod 55, lever 56 and projection 60, with one reciprocation being obtained per revolution of cam 16. As will be subsequently shown, a ceramic piece 134 is fed on the upper surface of feeding plate 59 when the feeding plate is moved to its right-end position. The ceramic piece is then carried to the left, intermediate the opposed end surfaces 27, 27' of stamp rods 27, 27.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show the mechanism whereby the ceramic piece 134 is removed on intermediate stamp rods 27, 27 after the paint coating thereof has been completed. This movement is time-coordinated by cam 65 mounted on shaft 11. A cam follower lever 66 is attached at axial pivot 67 to base plate 1, with the movement thereof being translated to slidable plate 69. Plate 62 is slidable along guide rail 68 outside the machine frame 3. Slidable plate 69' includes pin 71 projecting inwardly therefrom to pass through a groove 70 within machine frame member 3. Groove 72 of cam follower lever 66 is in engagement with guide rail pin 71 to eifect translation of plate 69. Lever 66 is biased against the surface of cam 65 by spring member 73. Slidable plate 69 includes a holder base plate 69' projecting towards the stamp rods 27, 27 and having a pair of holder members 74, 74 at its front end. Accordingly, each revolution of the cam 65 imparts a reciprocal sliding motion to plate 69, such that holder member'74 advances to the stamp rod position to catch the ceramic piece 144 being discharged and then retreats to discharge said piece to an inclined conveying trough 75. Conveying trough 75 is preferably of arc-shaped cross-section, and is shown in FIGURE 2 as disposed below the region wherein stamping rods 27, 27 meet.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 5 and 9 with respect to the opening and closing operation of the pair of holder members 74, 74 of holder base plate 69. The timed operation of the holder members 74, 74 is controlled by timing cam 17. Cam follower lever 76 having intermediate follower roller 73 in engagement with cam 17 is axially pivoted to base plate 1 at 77. The upper end of lever 76 is connected to connecting rod 79. Connecting rod 79 is slidably inserted through machine frame 3 to project outwardly. Lever 76 is rearwardly biased by spring member 80. A pusher member 79 is attached to the front end of the connecting rod 79 at a position outside the machine frame 3, parallel to the direction to which holder base plate 6% moves; such that pusher member 72' is moved forwardly and rearwardly responsive to the cam actuated movement of lever 76. A bell crank member 82 is pivotally mounted at axis 81 on holder base plate 69, and is rearwardly biased by spring 84. Bell crank 82 is interconnected to pusher member 86 by groove end 85 in engagement with pin 81. Numeral 94 denotes a guideaperture in pusher member 86, and numeral 95 denotes a guide pin for same. When bell crank 82 is pushed at its end containing roller 83, its other end slidably translates pusher member 86 mounted on the base plate 69'. This results in a pair of bell cranks 88, 88 disposed on base plate 69 being pushed at their rear end rollers 89, 89 to be spread apart at their axes 90, 90 against spring 91. Stop members 133, 133 are provided on both' sides of bell crank pair 88, with a further stop member 132 being provided at the rear end portion of pusher member 86. The pair of holder members 74, 74 are slidably engaged at their rear end portions by axial pin 92. A pair of pins 93, 93 projecting from axial pin 92 are engaged by the front ends of bell crank members 88, 88; such that the opening and closing motion of bell crank pair 88 effects sliding of holder members 74 along their axes to open and close. Holder members 74, 74 close to hold the ceramic piece 134 from opposed sides thereof, when the same is moved forwardly to the position intermediate stamp rod members 27, 27, with such movement being effected by the forward movement of holder base plate 69, as described above. The holder members are then retreated and opened to release the ceramic piece 134 therefrom, in accordance with the subsequently discussed sequence of operation.

Reference is again made to FIGURE 4, with respect to the manner in which paint is supplied to the front end applicator surface 47 of paint member 46. This motion is provided by follower lever 97 axially pivoted at 98 to base plate 1, and in engagement with cam 96 fixedly mounted to rotating shaft 11, with intermediately located roller 99 of follower lever 97 being in engagement with the peripheral surface of cam member 96. The upper end of lever 9'7 is connected to a connecting rod 100, which in turn is connected to lever 102. Lever 102 is pivotally mounted at 101 in parallel arrangement with lever 97, and is urged in one direction by spring 103. The upper end of lever 102 engages pin 107, which projects through a guide groove 106 in machine frame 3 from a slidable plate 105, provided at the outside of the machine frame 3 to slide along a horizontal groove 104. Referring now also to FIGURE 2, a pair of paintsupplying rolls 10, 108 are provided on the side surface of the slidable plate 105 to be placed at positions corresponding to the upper and lower surfaces of the paint member 47. In accordance with the reciprocal slidable movement of plate 105', the two rolls 108, 108 roll along the upper and lower paint applicator surfaces 47 for supplying paint thereto.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, chain wheel 109 is shown driven by chain 9, with the gear 112 being in meshed engagement, with gears 1 11. Gears 111 and 109 are coaxially arranged about 1 10. As shown in FIGURE 2, a paint roll 119 is immersed in paint vessel 1318. Paint roll 119 is supported on axis 117, with rotation being imparted to axis 117 by chain wheel 116 driven through a chain 115 by chain wheel 114. Chain wheel 114 is located about the same axis 113 as the chain wheel 112 shown in FIGURE 4. An intermediate roller 120 is shown disposed in a position to move into contact with paint roll 119; with intermediate roll 120 then being transferred to the pair of paint feed rolls 121, 121 positioned outside the machine frame 3 on axes 110 and 113 respectively. That is, intermediate roll 120 carried by arm 122 is pivoted about axis 123 by a cam 124 attached to the axis 113 and'a spring 125 to be'swung intermittently for transferring the paint on paint roll 119 to the upper feed roll 121. Rolls 108, 108 are brought into contact with the rolls 121, 121 to receive paint therefrom, which paint may then be supplied to the applicator 6 surfaces 47 of the paint member 46 during the abovedescribed reciprocating movement thereof.

The sequential operation of the apparatus of the present invention will now be described, with it being understood that upon actuation of motor 4, all the mechanisms mentioned above are operated through drive shaft 7. On a revolution of cam shaft 13 in relation to the movement of cam 14, the pair of stamp rods 27, 27 reciprocally repeat their contracting and separating movements. At a time when rods 27 are opened, the paint applicator surf-aces 4-7, the ceramic piece feeding plate 59, and the holder member 47 sequentially project in regular order between the two opened stamped rods 27. More specifically, the stamped rods 27 are kept in their opened condition during the time when the lever 29 is in engagement with a convex portion 131 of cam 14, as shown in FIGURE 6. During the opened period of stamp rods 27, the holder member 74 projects therebetween for carrying out a previously coated ceramic piece 134. The paint applicator surface 47 of the paint member 46 coated with paint then projects therebetween.

The lever 29 then contacts concave portion 126 of cam 14, so that stamp rods 27 approach one another to contact with the paint applicator surfaces, thereby coating stamp pieces 27 with paint transferred from the paint applicator surfaces 37 of member46.

Lever 29 will then be brought into contact with a convex portion 127 of the cam 14, such that the stamp rods 27 are opened and the paint applicator member 46 retreated. The feeder plate 59 having received a ceramic piece 134 from a suitable feeding means then advances to project between the two stamp rods 27. Lever 29 will then be brought into contact with a concave portion 128 of the cam 14, such that stamp pieces 27 approach one another to close and the upper stamp piece 27' is brought into contact with the ceramic piece 134 so that the piece may be adhered thereto 'by the adhesion of the paint. It is to be noted that the depth of the concave portion 128 of cam 14 corresponding to this function is properly adjusted so that the lower stamp piece 27 does not contact with the feed plate 59.

Lever 29 then engages convex portion 129 of the cam 14 such that stamp pieces 27' are opened, during which open period the feeding plate 59 is removed from in-between stamp rods 27.

Engagement of lever 29 with the next concave portion 130 of the cam 14 brings the two stamped pieces 27' together, with the ceramic piece 134 being adhered to the upper stamp piece 27'. Upon closing thereof, both the stamp pieces 27 firmly contact the opposed surfaces of ceramic piece 134 to apply a uniform coating of paint thereto. It is to be noted that this engagement is carefully controlled by the configuration of the cam 14, and the afore-described resilient or elastic construction of stamp pieces 27 so as to protect against breakage of fragile ceramic pieces 134. Concave portion 130 preferably includes a plurality of shallow concave or convex regions, such that the stamp pieces 27' repeatedly contact and separate so as to insure a uniform and even paint coating 135 about the opposed surfaces of ceramic piece 134.

Corresponding to the opening of stamp pieces 27 by the next concave portion 131 of cam 14, holder member 74 projects and retreats with the ceramic piece being held at its side edges. Holder 74 is then opened to release the ceramic piece 134 down incline-conveying trough 75, thereby discharging the ceramic condenser element 134, having conductive coating films uniformly applied on both surfaces thereof. conveying trough 75 preferably supports ceramic piece 134 at its both side edges on its diameter so that the coating film 135 will not be injured during the time that the element is conveyed thereby.

Thus, according to the instant invention the above- The arc-shaped cross-section of p described operations can be repeated in regular order antomatically by only actuating a motor whereby:

(1) A thin ceramic piece is supplied in-between two stamped surfaces having a repetitive contacting and separating movement; 4

(2) The ceramic piece is adhered to the stamped surface by the adhesion of paint previously applied to said surfaces;

(3) Th ceramic element is stamped on its both surfaces with paint; and

(4) The ceramic piece is held at its side edges while being removed from the instant apparatus.

11 this manner I provide an advantageous apparatus and method for automatically producing condenser elements having a uniform conductive film applied to both surfaces thereof continuously, Without causing any damage to such fragile and easily breakable thin ceramic pieces. Further, the relative positioning of the opposed surface electrodes is more uniform than has heretofore been obtainable, and because of the application thereof under pressure the conductive coating paint can partially penetrate into the ceramic piece for providing improved conductivity thereof.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and I prefer therefore to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows.

1. Apparatus for forming a conductive coating on a thin ceramic piece comprising: a pair of stamp rods; first means for reciprocally moving said stamp rods towards and away from each other; second means for feeding a thin ceramic piece in the space intermediate said stamp rods while in their spaced-apart position; said first means bringing said stamp rods toward each other to apply a conductive coating to at least one of the opposed surfaces of a thin ceramic piece in the space intermediate said pair of stamp rods; third means for removing a ceramic piece having a conductive coating applied to at least one surface thereof; said pair of stamp rods including a pair of stamp pieces at the opposed surfaces thereof; said stamp pieces being resiliently formed to firmly engage opposed surfaces of a thin ceramic piece without breakage thereof; said pair of stamp rods including said stamp pieces at the opposed surfaces thereof; a conductive paint supply; fourth means for automatically transferring paint from said conductive paint supply simultaneously to each of said stamp pieces.

2. Apparatus for forming a conductive coating on a thin ceramic piece comprising: a pair of stamp rods; first means for reciprocally moving said stamp rods towards and away from each other; second means for feeding a thin ceramic piece in the space intermediate said stamp rods while in their spaced-apart position; said first means bringing said stamp rods towards each other to apply a conductive coating to at least one of the opposed surfaces of a thin ceramic piece in the space intermediate said pair of stamp rods; third means for removing a ceramic piece having a conductive coating applied to at least one surface there-of; said third means including a holder means for removing a ceramic piece from intermediate said stamp rods; said holder means being distinct from said second means, fifth means for sequentially opening and closing said holder means.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first means repeatedly moves said pair of stamp rods towards and away from each other with a ceramic piece therebetween, thereby applying a uniform layer of a conductive coating by the repeated engagement therewith.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said holder means engages a discharged ceramic piece by the edge surfaces to protect the previously applied conductive coating.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, the conductive coating to be applied forming an adhesive coating on at least one of said stamp rods; said second means comprising a feed piate; said first means being adapted to effect contact of said adhesive coating and a ceramic piece while said feed plate of said second means is intermediate said pair of stamp rods; said first means separating said contacted stamp rod to remove a ceramic piece from said feed plate; said second means removing said feed plate from intermediate said stamp rods.

6. Apparatus for forming a conducting coating on a thin ceramic piece comprising: a pair of stamp rods; first means for reciprocally moving said stamp rods towards and away from each other; second means for feeding a thin ceramic piece in the space inter-mediate said stamp rods While in their spaced-apart position; said second means comprising a feed plate; third means for removing a ceramic piece having a conducting coating applied to at least one surface thereof; a conductive paint supply; fourth means for automatically transferring paint from said conductive paint supply to said stamp rods; the conductive paint coating to be applied forming an adhesive coating on at least one of said stamp rods; said first means effecting contact of said adhesive coating and a ceramic piece while said feed plate of said second means is intermediate said pair of stamp rods; said first means separating said contacted stamp rod to remove a ceramic piece from said feed plate; said second means removing said feed plate from intermediate said stamp rods; said first means repeatedly moving said pair of stamp rods towards and away from each other with a ceramic piece therebetween, thereby applying a uniform layer of a conductive coating by the repeated engagement therewith; said third means including a holder means for removing a ceramic piece from intermediate said stamp rods; said holder means being distinct from said second means; fifth means for sequentially opening and closing said holder means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said pair of stamp rods includes stamp pieces at the opposed surfaces thereof; said stamp pieces being resiliently formed to firmly engage opposed surfaces of a thin ceramic piece without breakage.

g. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth means are sequentially coordinated by timing cam means driven from a common source.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said fourth means is adapted to simultaneously apply paint to each of said stamp rods.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ALFRED L. LEAVITT, Primary Examiner.

A. H. ROSENSTEIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING A CONDUCTIVE COATING ON A THIN CERAMIC PIECE COMPRISING: A PAIR OF STAMP RODS; FIRST MEANS FOR RECIPROCALLY MOVING SAID STAMP RODS TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER; SECOND MEANS FOR FEEDING A THIN CERAMIC PIECE IN THE SPACE INTERMEDIATE SAID STAMP RODS WHILE IN THEIR SPACED-APART POSITION; SAID FIRST MEANS BRINGING SAID STAMP RODS TOWARD EACH OTHER TO APPLY A CONDUCTIVE COATING TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE OPPOSED SURFACES OF A THIN CERAMIC PIECE IN THE SPACE INTERMEDIATE SAID PAIR OF STAMP RODS; THIRD MEANS FOR REMOVING A CERAMIC PIECE HAVING A CONDUCTIVE COATING APPLIED TO AT LEAST ONE SURFACE THEREOF; SAID PAIR OF STAMP RODS INCLUDING A PAIR OF STAMP PIECES AT THE OPPOSED SURFACES THEREOF; SAID STAMP 